Simone Geadah feels lucky to live in one of the 146 homes inside famous architect Moshe Safdie’s revolutionary modular home complex in Montreal, Habitat 67. Since its opening days throughout the 1967 International and Universal Exposition, the building has caught the eye of sailors, tourists and especially design professionals. “I trained in research, therefore for me it was a dream to live here,” Geadah states.
Each unit is made up of one- to five-cube constructions — there are 354 interconnected cubes in total — and Geadah was particularly blessed to evaluate a three-cube unit eight years back. What’s more, her remodeled house has rare views of the two downtown Montreal in front and the St. Lawrence River out back.
in a Glance
Who resides: Simone Geadah and dog Zara
Location: Montreal
Size: 2,072 square feet;1 bedroom, 2 baths
Esther Hershcovich
Geadah’s unit includes three attached cubes that measure 16 by 39 feet and provide the feeling of private spaces. After purchasing the unit eight years ago, Geadah set out remodeling the space, including new floors as well as a new kitchen, bath and sunroom.
On the right is the Old Port of Montreal.
Esther Hershcovich
Esther Hershcovich
The crisp white kitchen and main living room comprise one of the three cubes. Geadah completed the renovations in three stages, starting with the kitchen, which took about four months.
Geadah wanted the kitchen to look organized but not to hide the fact that it is a kitchen. M. Richard Valade of Création Avantage addressed this by building full size cabinets with glass in the middle while the rest is opaque.
Cabinets: Abet Laminati; appliances: AEG
Esther Hershcovich
A number of the drawer units are on wheels and pull out to add additional seating at the island. Meanwhile, the kick plates serve another purpose, also. When tapped they open to reveal additional drawers.
The kitchen floor consists of manufactured from porcelaine-ceramic, simulated wood-marquetterie that pay homage to the first Habitat flooring, which was made of small parts of wood constructed together.
Esther Hershcovich
Locally made walnut veneer floor-to-ceiling cabinetry helps join the open spaces and also add visual fluidity.
Esther Hershcovich
Since her college kids were living in their when Geadah purchased her unit, she turned a spare bedroom into a light-filled dining area with views of the river on each side.
Floors: timber, Cumaru in Planchers Lasalle
Esther Hershcovich
The dining room cabinets are 30 inches deep, offering plenty of storage space as well as small surprises, like this wine refrigerator.
Esther Hershcovich
Geadah purchased this dresser in the antiques store in China.
Art: Margrith Wyrsch
Esther Hershcovich
Instead of drapes in the main bathroom, Geadah needed a plastic sheeting decal applied to pay the window.
Esther Hershcovich
Esther Hershcovich
A stairway leads to the third block. The stairs were initially inset into the walls, but they were later moved to make room for wall mounted shelves. The large blue painting has been held for a buddy, but Geadah is crossing her fingers that she’ll promote it.
A Mayflower seat from Roche Bobois transforms to make numerous seating positions.
Esther Hershcovich
Geadah commissioned her buddy Margrith Wyrsh to make a painting which would inspire her while she worked from home. Wyrsh reacted with those three paintings with the subject “Orient and Occident” in mind.
Esther Hershcovich
Tooffset the outside concrete that’s visible from the main living room windows, Geadah additional cozy-feeling orange-red sofas.
Couches: Roche Bobois; artwork: Margrith Wyrsch
Esther Hershcovich
Bookshelves: Sapien, Design Within Reach
Esther Hershcovich
A newly constructed Zytco solarium on the patio adds brightness. This addition took about 12 months and was the newest renovation to the house.
Esther Hershcovich
Plants, pots: Alpha Plantes
Esther Hershcovich
Inspired by the box extrusions of Habitat 67, Geadah came up with the idea of creating a balcony as her office. She then designed custom cabinetry. The desk is imported marble.
Esther Hershcovich
A corridor leads to what used to be the main bedroom. When Geadah saw the wonderful view, she made a decision to turn space into a sitting area.
Esther Hershcovich
Several version sailboats sit on the windowsill overlooking the Old Port of Montreal. Although some do not like the industrial perspective, Geadah states it shows the life span of Montreal. “It’s always shifting,” she states.
Esther Hershcovich
Another bathroom is next to the sitting area on top floor. Geadah had stones put under polymer to make a Zen feel. Both wooden wall decoration pieces were purchased in China.
Esther Hershcovich
“It’s a community,” Geadah, revealed here, states. “People do not usually leave. They’ll move to a bigger or smaller unit, based on their needs, but they remain.”
See more photographs of the home